Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics)

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

This was an incredibly difficult read for me - I work for and serve people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and abuse & neglect are still all too common today. People with disabilities are 4-10X more likely to be victims of physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse than people w/o disabilities. Jenkins did a great job laying out ways caregivers can manipulate individuals and how they hide it.⬇️ #PersephoneClub

Aimeesue A tough read, but worth it. If you suspect that an individual with ID/DD is being exploited or abused, you can report (usually anonymously, unless you‘re a mandated reporter) to your State/County‘s Child Protective Service or Adult Protective Services hotline. (edited) 13mo

Tamra This was really well written. Sadly. 😔 13mo

Aimeesue @Tamra It made me so angry! Brought up a lot of issues around Legal Guardianship and the dignity of risk, which I deal with far too often. Super hard for families to know which way to go. 13mo

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Tamra @Aimeesue for sure! I had two uncles who were developmental disabled and my grandmother held out and didn‘t surrender guardianship to a state residential “school” at a time when there was tremendous pressure to do so. However, things greatly improved and later in life they had the opportunity to work, engage in activities, and live with others. Still, they are so vulnerable though. (edited) 13mo

LeahBergen Great review! 13mo

Aimeesue @Tamra Wow! That was really tough to do back when doctors were telling families to institutionalize their children, all but forcing them to do so. I‘m glad your uncles escaped that and went on to live lives that they liked and enjoyed. We do far too little to support individuals and their families. 💙 13mo

Aimeesue @LeahBergen It was a tough one! 13mo

jlhammar Such a good book, but very distressing. Great review! 13mo

30 likes8 comments

andrew61

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

#PersephoneClub Rdg the afterword + searching it was shocking to realise that this dreadful story of the cruel destruction of an individual for profit was based on a true tale. Told with an excellent touch the prose rattles along with villainous brothers Patrick + Lewis conspiring to isolate Harriet. Great storytelling
@rubyslippersreads @CarolynM @Tamra @LeahBergen @quietjenn @elkeOriginal @Aimeesue @Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB @jlhammar @Gissy

Tamra It truly is dreadful. 😕 14mo

BarbaraBB Great review. Such a dreadful story. Poor Harriet 14mo

jlhammar I agree, brilliant storytelling. This sent me searching as well. So terrible. 14mo

LeahBergen Great review! It was written in such a compelling way that I could hardly put it down. 14mo

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Aimeesue

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

This is a HUGE part of my job, walking the line between competence, legal guardianship, supported decision making, and allowing people the dignity of risk. It is always complicated, especially when someone is placed under guardianship and it looks, from the outside, as if it‘s not needed. I have to remind myself that parents really just want to keep their kids safe, even if they‘re 47 years old and seem competent. It‘s emotionally messy.

Aimeesue I am FEELING this book. And to think, I have December off from work, hahaha! Can‘t escape the ethical issues,even on vacation! 14mo

vivastory Not sure if there's such a thing as time off in our line of work 🤣 14mo

Aimeesue @vivastory Right? Every day, I think « Do NOT check your email! DONT DOOOO IT!!! Ten times a day, at least! ? 14mo

LeahBergen That passage really made me think! 14mo

25 likes4 comments

Tamra

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Well, this puts the jingle in the jingle bells festivities! 🥹

You know a human train wreck is coming, but you are powerless to put a stop to it. #allthehumanrightsviolations

Excellent, compelling writing by Jenkins! #Persephoneclub

Tamra @quietjenn @sisilia @CarolynM @elkeOriginal @Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @Gissy @rubyslippersreads @jlhammar @andrew61 @willaful @Aimeesue @Karons1 14mo

LeahBergen Right? Who needs a Christmas ghost story when you can have lurid Victorian true crime. 😆 14mo

Tamra @LeahBergen exactly! 😉 14mo

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jlhammar Yes, so compelling! 14mo

Tamra @jlhammar I was even reading on the treadmill to find out how it ended. 😅 14mo

andrew61 I'm halfway through so hoping Lewis and Patrick are going to come to a sticky end. 14mo

batsy Gosh! This sounds really enticing based on all the reviews (dunno what that says about me 😂) 14mo

Vansa ELizabeth Jenkins is a GENIUS. I haven't read this one yet! 14mo

Tamra @andrew61 🤞🏾 14mo

Tamra @batsy Ha! Me too. 😏 14mo

Tamra @Vansa it‘s definitely worth putting on your TBR. I have had Tortoise & The Hare on my own TBR for ages, I have to bump it up! 14mo

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rubyslippersreads

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

This post contains spoilers

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Like others, I was reluctant to read this, but in spite of the constant feeling of dread, I couldn‘t put it down. I certainly can‘t understand the hold Patrick and Lewis held over women; they must have had some serious “rizz.” 🫤

Although not the Persephone cover, I found this one chilling.

#PersephoneClub

@quietjenn @sisilia @Carolyn @elkeOriginal @Gissy @Aimeesue @Tamra @andrew61 @Cathythoughts, @jlhammar @Karons1 @willaful @LeahBergen

Tamra I‘m full of foreboding & dread each time I open it, but that is a testament to the writing. 14mo

elkeOriginal I love that cover! So chilling. 14mo

elkeOriginal And that drawing of the perpetrators! 14mo

jlhammar Nice use of the word of the year 😂 Agree, hard to see their great allure. 14mo

LeahBergen Rizz, indeed! 😂😂 I totally fell down the Google rabbit hole after reading this book. 14mo

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Tamra

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

Ouch! 😏

LeahBergen Yep. 1y

41 likes1 comment

LeahBergen

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Harriet, an affluent woman with an unspecified learning disability, falls prey to a fortune hunter and his nasty family in this 1934 novel based on a famous Victorian criminal case.

It‘s an absolute cracker of a read and (despite the grim storyline) I couldn‘t put it down!

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, sisilia, CarolynM, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, jlhammar, Bookbuyingaddict, willaful

sarahbarnes Absolute cracker 😆 1y

Tamra I can tell already there are some not-so likable characters! 1y

jlhammar I didn‘t want to put it down either! Such a dark and distressing story, but so well told. 1y

See All 12 Comments

LeahBergen @sarahbarnes It was. 😆 1y

LeahBergen @Tamra They come into play very early on. 😬 1y

LeahBergen @jlhammar Exactly! I was really impressed with the writing. 1y

andrew61 Looking forward to reading it next week leah particularly after thus review. 1y

LeahBergen @andrew61 I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Andrew! 1y

CarolynM Great review. I‘m hoping to get started on it soon. 1y

elkeOriginal I did not want nor plan to read this based on the sad, dark plot but you and @jlhammar ‘s reviews are making me rethink that decision! 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! I think you‘ll like it. 1y

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I was a bit hesitant myself but most of the story focuses on how the four people slowly came to treat Harriet the way they did (without dwelling on the horrible aspects of that treatment). If that makes sense? It‘s very well done and reads much like a Victorian novel. (edited) 1y

69 likes2 stack adds12 comments

jlhammar

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Heartwarming novel, perfect for the holidays. 🤣

Okay, in all seriousness, this was one upsetting read. Those cruel, horrible people! Chilling, gripping, expertly crafted. And that last paragraph! Wow. Loved it.

I‘ve got another of her books, The Tortoise and the Hare, waiting on my shelves. Now I‘m even more eager to read it!

#PersephoneClub

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, sisilia, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Gissy, Aimeesue, Tamra, andrew61, Cathythoughts, Bookbuyingaddict, willaful

LeahBergen 😆😆 I‘ve just started it. 1y

Tamra I‘m hoping to start today - fabulous opening review! 😅😆 1y

rubyslippersreads I enjoyed The Tortoise and the Hare, so I‘m looking forward to this one. 1y

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willaful Oh, I really loved The Tortoise and the Hare but never had any luck finding anything else by the author. I didn't even realize it was the same one. 1y

Deblovestoread Great review! Stacked 💚❤️💚 1y

quietjenn Sounds promising 😉. I've got a copy of Tortoise that I've been meaning to get to! 1y

LeahBergen I was so surprised at how gripping this book was! And I‘m happy to have The Tortoise and the Hare already on my shelves waiting for me. 1y

LeahBergen And I fell down the Google rabbit hole, looking up the real case. 😆 1y

jlhammar @LeahBergen I know! I wasn‘t expecting that either. And same with looking up the real case. Definitely going to try to get to The Tortoise and the Hare next year! 1y

CarolynM 😆 Great review! 1y

elkeOriginal Tortoise & Hare added to TBR! 1y

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LitsyEvents

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

repost for @LeahBergen:

It‘s now December so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@Gissy ‘s pick for us this month is Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

LitsyEvents #BuddyRead

Original post:
https://www.litsy.com/web/post/2670461 1y

LeahBergen Thanks for sharing! 1y

30 likes2 comments

LeahBergen

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

It‘s now December so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@Gissy ‘s pick for us this month is Harriet by Elizabeth Jenkins. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

rubyslippersreads, quietjenn, CarolynM, LeahBergen, elkeOriginal, Aimeesue, andrew61, Cathythoughts, jlhammar

LeahBergen And we can start to vote on next year‘s books, if everyone is still interested? February is @jlhammar , April is @LeahBergen , June is @quietjenn , August is @rubyslippersreads , October is @Aimeesue , and December is @andrew61 . 1y

quietjenn I'm game for more #PersephoneClubbing! I'll start to ponder options, but won't post until a) we are sure things will continue and b) our first two months have been posted. 1y

rubyslippersreads I‘m definitely interested in an excuse to add to my Persephone collection. 😉 1y

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jlhammar Can't wait to start Harriet tonight! And so excited to choose our Persephones for next year! I'll post our options for February shortly. 1y

CarolynM I‘m looking forward to reconnecting with the #PersephoneClub for this one - and to seeing next year‘s selections😀 1y

Tamra I have this one Kindle. Sad about that, but looking forward to the read. 😁 1y

elkeOriginal Looking forward to next year‘s reads! Unlike @rubyslippersreads I actually hope we read some I already own! I feel so guilty every time I walk past them and they remain in the TBR… 1y

Liz_M @LitsyEvents 1y

LeahBergen @quietjenn Perfect 👍 1y

LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Me, too 😆 1y

LeahBergen @jlhammar Yay! 👏 1y

LeahBergen @CarolynM Me, too! 1y

LeahBergen @Tamra 😆 1y

LeahBergen @elkeOriginal I have a LOT unread, too. 😆 1y

rubyslippersreads @elkeOriginal I‘m just letting @LeahBergen do her job as enabler. 🤣 1y

LeahBergen Okay, @andrew61 , you can go ahead and post your two choices for us for December! And don‘t forget to vote on the other months we‘re voting on now. 😊 1y

48 likes16 comments

BarbaraBB

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

#BookReport 02/23

Just those two. The Persephone was very good, as usual. 2 AM was just an okay read for me, though I had some new insights thanks to @Megabooks and @Hooked_on_books Always happy for our bookish talks!

Cinfhen

Hooked_on_books I think I get more out of talking about a book I didn‘t like than one I did like. I think it‘s because there‘s more to explore. 2y

Chelsea.Poole Agreed @Hooked_on_books …always more to discuss about a book I didn‘t enjoy so much. @BarbaraBB I love the different perspectives from you all here…I nearly always have a new takeaway from the chats here. Litsy has the best readers! 2y

Cathythoughts I have Harriet stacked 👍🏻 2y

See All 10 Comments

TrishB @Chelsea.Poole agreed 👍🏻 always love the different perspectives! 2y

squirrelbrain At least we‘re having some great #tob discussions already, before the tournament-proper even starts…! 2y

Cinfhen Agreed, all the chatter amongst us is better than any commentator 🤓 2y

Megabooks I‘m really enjoying our tob discussions too. So many diverse ideas! And I agree with @Hooked_on_books that sometimes the best discussions come from mediocre books. (edited) 2y

BarbaraBB @Hooked_on_books That is so true, about the books I didn‘t like. I love all our opinions and it happens regularly that I add half a star just because a book or author is able to raise such a discussion @Megabooks 2y

BarbaraBB @Chelsea.Poole @TrishB @squirrelbrain @Cinfhen It‘s definitely one of the things I like most about Litsy, that we can discuss books, listen to and learn from one another and that it is no problem at all to disagree ❤️❤️ 2y

BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I think you‘d like it! 2y

63 likes10 comments

BarbaraBB

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Harriet is a young woman with a small fortune. A mental disability makes her an easy target for the handsome and unscrupulous Lewis Oman. After winning Harriet's love, Lewis, along with his brother and mistress, sets in motion a cruel plan to get his hands on her money.

A very good, shocking story, not in the least because it is based on a true one from 1877

#Roll100 #pop23 #IndependentBookstore #52Booksclub23 #FeaturingOneOfTheSevenDeadlySins

LaraReads, KarenUK, Cinfhen, britt_brooke, CarolynM, Smarkies, LeeRHarry, Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick, BookBelle84, jenniferw88, Deblovestoread, Librarybelle, AshleyHoss820, Read4life, rmaclean4, Bluebird, squirrelbrain, ravenlee, RaeLovesToRead, PuddleJumper

Deblovestoread Sounds great! Stacked 📚 2y

Librarybelle Based on true stories books are always interesting! 2y

LeahBergen Great review! I‘m looking forward to this one later in the year with #PersephoneClub. 2y

See All 20 Comments

JenniferP I‘ve read all my Persephones! Maybe I‘ll put some more on my birthday wish list - this sounds great! 2y

AshleyHoss820 Sounds good!! Love the picture, as usual! ☺️ 2y

BarbaraBB @LeahBergen I‘d have liked to read this with you but my challenges decided otherwise 🤣🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y

BarbaraBB @JenniferP they are always such a comfort to read. Every couple of years I allow myself to buy six of them, of which Persephone sends me one a month: it feels like a gift when another arrives! 2y

Cinfhen This does sound interesting!!! Perfect for GREED 😊Also love the photo 😘 2y

squirrelbrain This sounds so good! 2y

Cathythoughts Sounds like another good one. Stacked. 2y

BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Greed indeed! 2y

BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Cathythoughts worth stacking! 2y

JenniferP @BarbaraBB I did this a few years back, but I believe they stopped this service to the U.S. Sad! 2y

PuddleJumper Brilliant! 2y

BkClubCare Love Persephone Books 2y

thewallflower0707 Love Persephone Books, I visited their bookstore in 2019, before they had to move. Did you get the chance to read A Town Called Solace yet? 2y

BarbaraBB @thewallflower0707 That is so cool, that you‘ve been there. I‘d love to go to Bath one day to visit their new shop. I haven‘t read your book yet, but I will soon! I will keep you posted! Am looking forward to it! 2y

BarbaraBB @JenniferP That is sad indeed. It is hard to Netherlands too these days, thanks to Brexit. 2y

thewallflower0707 @BarbaraBB that‘s great! It was nicely decorated too, and right around the corner from Gay‘s the Word, a beautiful LGBTQ bookstore with lots of history. Shame they had to move. 2y

BarbaraBB @thewallflower0707 Absolutely. That sounds great. But I want to visit Bath one day anyhow, so much history there! 2y

95 likes6 stack adds20 comments

emilyhaldi

Harriet | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Born "half-witted" in 1841, Harriet was cared for by her mother until the age of 33 when Lewis discovers her fortune and convinces her to fall #crazyinlove with him. No begging from her mother will convince her that Lewis is only in it for the money, & Harriet suffers the consequences of her choice in a horrific way. Stunning the people of London when this (true!!) crime first took place, this story is equally horrifying now.
#heatofjuly

TrishB Lovely pic 👍🏻 7y

Kalalalatja I really need to get my hands on a Persephone edition. I don‘t know how I have been able to resist them for so long 😍 7y

robinb I just googled this crime...chilling and heartbreaking. 😳💔 7y

See All 7 Comments

Jess_Read_This Omigosh. I haven‘t heard about this book or the story. How tragic. Your Persephone edition is gorgeous. 7y

LeahBergen I need to get this one. 👍🏻 7y

Mdargusch Good one! 7y

Reviewsbylola I really liked this one. 7y

109 likes4 stack adds7 comments

suvata

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Originally published in 1934 this is a lightly fictionalized account of a horrendous murder that occurred in 1877. What made it so disturbing was the method used. Locked up in an attic, Harriet was starved to death. A well written yet distressing novel.

25 likes1 stack add

suvata

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

Up next: Harriet
This Persephone book came highly recommended.
Keeping my fingers crossed.

30 likes1 stack add

Reviewsbylola

Harriet (Valancourt 20th Century Classics) | Elizabeth Jenkins

pick

Published by Persephone, this is the fictionalized account of a "simple minded" woman named Harriet who is taken advantage of and married for her fortune. Her husband and his in-laws treat her deplorably. I'll keep it short and sweet, so as not to give away the entire story. I read it at break neck speed--I couldn't put it down. The main picture shows Harriet and her husband.

Caryl ❤️Persephone Books❤️ 8y

suvata Added to my list 8y

minkyb I don't own any Persephone books. This situation needs to be remedied! 8y

See All 8 Comments

Reviewsbylola They're so pretty and a lot of fun to collect! @annied bought this one for our mom because she said it is her favorite Persephone to date and I may have to concur with that! @minkyb 8y

bunny I've never heard of Persephone books before. How awesome! 8y

minkyb @Reviewsbylola Order placed. I am not sort of hiding on the opposite end of the house from my long suffering husband! 😜 8y

Reviewsbylola I'm on a no buy July but I have to admit, I'm tempted to place a Persephone order too. 🙈 @minkyb 8y

Mdargusch This was a very haunting story. 😿 8y

108 likes7 stack adds8 comments

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